While I suspect that I alone was not the reason this was done, it mirrors a suggestion I made to AA.
Before this was done, AA had one line for all F, J and elite pax in Terminal D. International F passengers should NEVER face a long line to check-in. I made the reccomendation that they create a separate line for International F passengers. While it should include EXPs (and I would have no hesitation to use it), the way it currently is arranged is far better than the old way.
When I am facing a 14 hour flight to NRT or KIX (and a connection to PVG), I do not expect to have to wait behind 100 Golds and people using miles to fly F to HNL.